East Midlands

Carved wooden sculptural fragments are a market strength.

The 1908 Olympic Games in London included duels with wax bullets, tug of war and the world’s oldest Olympic champion.

'The Artisan Brocante' was launched last year in the gardens of Grantham House a 17th-18th century National Trust property in the Lincolnshire town of Grantham.

At Gildings (20% buyer’s premium) of Market Harborough, one little, or rather big bird took flight.

A number of strong performers stood out in a variety of individual pieces offered in Bamfords’ (24.75% buyer’s premium) large four-day auction

An autographed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-82) described as “very scarce” by Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) sold for £8500.

A gold and cameo ring offered with an estimate of just £200-300 at Derbyshire auction house Irita Marriott (plus 28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) and catalogued as 19th century caught the eye of a number of jewellery dealers and bidders from as far as Paris and the US.

A vesta case decorated with a campaigning Suffragette is among the highlights at the Buxton Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair.

Hansons’ saleroom in Derbyshire has been the victim of a ram-raid break-in.

A Polynesian ladle surfaced in a Derbyshire saleroom, selling for nearly five-times its £500-700 estimate.

“Despite the awful weather we still had over 50 stalls and our indoor venue, the Memorial Hall was packed,” said Sally-Anne Swindell, organiser of the Wirksworth Antiques in the Street’s early April event in the eponymous Peak District market town.